Renault Clio SUV: to be launched at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show?

The new Renault Clio will be the base for a new compact SUV arriving on the market in late 2013. The car has been anticipated by a concept called Captur, displayed during the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, and could be unveiled in production version at the same event, scheduled for March 2013. The vehicle should have an overall length of 4.1 metres, and should be based on the same Renault-Nissan B-platform, already shared by Juke, Micra and obviously Clio.

The style of the car will be strongly influenced by both the Clio 4 and the Captur concept: the company strongly relies on this new captivating model to pull the sales of this kind of vehicles, considering that the SUV segment is now booming more than ever. The same concept has been expressed by Renault design chief, Laurens van den Acker, who also stated: “It’s ironic for me that, with Dacia, we made a fantastic crossover, so it’s not for a lack of capability or knowledge that Renault doesn’t have one.”, he also added that the new SUV will be “more latin, sensual, sporting. The crossover will be sexy”.

Under the hood will lie the same engine line-up of the new French hatch, which will be equipped with front-wheel drive, although a four-wheel drive option might also be considered, given its compatibility with the B- platform. Renault has plans to launch, among the engine range, the interesting 4-cylinder 1.6-litre turbo unit with 200 hp, featured on the new Clio RS.